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Tag: Chief Innocent Chukwuma

  • ‘Nigeria First’ policy a game-changer, says Innoson

    ‘Nigeria First’ policy a game-changer, says Innoson

    CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), Chief Innocent Chukwuma, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, describing it as a bold and game-changing initiative capable of transforming the manufacturing landscape.

    Speaking on television, the industrialist expressed optimism about the policy’s potential to revitalise local industries and stimulate economic growth through local content promotion.

    “When I heard about this policy, I felt so good. I believe now Nigeria has a clear direction. This policy is about telling ourselves the truth: we cannot continue to grow other nations’ economies at the expense of our own.

    “It’s a message to Nigerians – especially those in leadership – to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods. This is the way to build a strong economy,” Chukwuma said.

    The policy, recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), mandates Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to give priority to Nigerian-made goods and services in all procurement decisions. The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is expected to play a key role in enforcing the directive.

    Chukwuma acknowledged the new vigour at the BPP, noting: “The BPP is now more proactive than ever.

    I’ve been engaging with the Ministry of Trade and other stakeholders, and I must say the momentum is very encouraging.”

    Despite IVM’s 17-year presence in Nigeria and its growing footprint across West Africa, the company has struggled to win significant patronage from the Nigerian government. Chukwuma lamented the continued preference for imported vehicles in official quarters.

    “It is heartbreaking that after so many years, we still see government agencies choosing foreign cars over ours. It’s not just about us; it’s about building our economy. Anybody who supports anything made in Nigeria is supporting this nation. If our leaders – from the President to ministers – start driving Nigerian cars, it will change everything,” he said.

    Read Also: Demolition not targeted at Innoson – Soludo clears air on Nnewi property removal

    He noted with concern that the 2024 national budget allocated N37 billion for foreign vehicles, a decision he described as “contrary to the spirit of local empowerment.”

    Still, Chukwuma remains hopeful that the Tinubu administration will turn the tide.

    “This government is different. The President has shown he is serious about supporting manufacturers. The N70 billion he released to the sector is a clear sign of commitment. These are no longer empty promises; things are being done,” he said.

    On IVM’s current operations, the auto magnate revealed that his plant has a production capacity of 60,000 units per year but is running at just 20per cent due to low demand. He believes that with full implementation of the Nigeria First policy, output can soar.

    “We’re ready to scale. If demand increases, it’s simply a matter of hiring more hands and expanding the assembly lines. We can even exceed our current capacity. What we need is consistent orders and genuine support from government,” he said.

  • Court adjourns for ruling in GTBank, Innoson appeal suit

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu Thursday adjourned sine die for ruling in an application brought before it by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) seeking to amend its motion of appeal against a judgement given by a Federal High Court, Awka against the bank.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter Thursday, counsel to GTBank, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) informed the court that the appellant (GTBank) had its notice of appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Awka.

    Opening his address, Olanipekun informed the court that he would like to withdraw the application dated June 22, 2016 and sought the court to grant him leave to do so. This application for withdrawal of the motion seeking an extension of time to respond to the counter affidavit filed by Innoson against the motion to amend the notice of appeal was opposed by counsel to Innoson Motors and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Prof. Joseph Mbadugha.

    Arguing that the court does not have the jurisdiction to grant hearing to the appellants, Mbadugha maintained that the court should hold the balance between the contending rights of all parties.

    Read Also:GTBank: Innoson admits misleading public on N14b court ruling

    In maintaining this balance he averred, the court should note that they (Innoson Motors) have a motion before the court challenging that the applicants cannot be allowed to move any applications before the court since they are yet to comply with a previous order of the court.

    He further argued that by order 80 of the Supreme Court Rules, since the appellants appeal has been entered at the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal lacks the right to adjudicate on it.

    Responding to Innoson’s argument, counsel to GTBank noted that Mbadugha’s positions were unconstitutional. He maintained that once an application for withdrawal has been made, the applicant can withdraw his application and such an application cannot be opposed.

    Maintaining that it is within the court’s jurisdiction to grant the leave being sought, Olanipekun argued that the right of appeal is a constitutional right that should not suffer any distraction or nuances of the respondent.

    Upholding Olanipekun’s argument, the court led by Justice Ogunwumiju ruled that by the provision of the 1999 constitution, an appellant has the right to withdraw its application. “The application hereby stands withdrawn and struckout”, she ruled.

    With the application withdrawn, Olanipekun moved a motion praying the court for leave to amend its notice of appeal dated January 28, 2015 challenging the order of the Federal High Court, Awka.

    This motion was again challenged by counsel to Innoson Motors who argued that where an appeal has been entered at the Supreme Court as in the case at hand, the lower court (Court of Appeal) loses the right to entertain the matter in any sort. The only jurisdiction the lower court has he argued, is to transmit all pending applications to the appellate court.

    Urging the court to disregard Innoson’s argument, GTBank’s counsel argued that what is before the Supreme Court is an appeal on an interlocutory application, which is totally different from the substantive suit being argued by the parties.

    “A respondent to an appeal does not have the locus standi to ask for a stay of proceedings. The only party that can ask for stay of execution is an appellant who has an appeal”, he argued.

    The matter was the adjourned for ruling on a date to be communicated to the parties in the suit.

  • I’m yet to be briefed on Innoson Chairman’s arrest – AGF

    I’m yet to be briefed on Innoson Chairman’s arrest – AGF

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF) Abubakar Malami on Thursday said that he has not been briefed on why the Chairman of Innocent Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma was arrested.

    The Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, two days ago had arrested Chief Chukwuma and took him to Abuja for allegedly refusing to honour invitation, which the Innoson Motors boss has denied.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber,  Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, the AGF said that he was yet to be briefed by the agency responsible for the arrest on the reason behind the action.

    Asked to explain the circumstances behind the arrest of Chukwuma, he said, “Well in all sincerity I wasn’t privy to facts that led the stated arrest. I have not been formally briefed by the relevant agencies.

    “One thing I know about Innoson is the fact that there has been a pending case between him and GTBank which is pending in court and is being prosecuted accordingly. Other than that, I am not privy to the fact and circumstances that led to the alleged arrest Wednesday. So until I am briefed by the relevant agencies, I am not in the clear position to make any disclosures relating to that.”

    On the memo from his office to the Council he said, “Two memos were presented Thursday from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the first memo was a memo relating to copy right bill which is intended to be transmitted by the executive to the legislature which passes it into law.

    “It is a Bill that relates to creative industry; it is designed to accord protection of creative works against piracy and protection of intellectual property rights.

    “The bill was taken and was accordingly approved by the Council; the Attorney General has accordingly been instructed to transmit same to the National Assembly for passage into law and eventual assent if it is eventually passed.

    “The second memo that was taken from the Federal Ministry of Justice was a memo relating to suppression of piracy and maritime offences act. The intention was to accord protection to the maritime industry against pirates and indeed, come up with a comprehensive policy provision accommodated into the bill which is intended to ensure that at the end of the day that the spirit of international conventions that have been ratified by Nigeria over time relating to maritime industry are indeed accommodated into the bill with a view to bring it in line with the international best practices and indeed ensure the protection of our maritime boundary.”

    The bill approved by the Council will be transmitted to the National Assembly for passage and eventual assent by the President.

    Speaking on the persisting fuel scarcity in the country, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that all the relevant agencies including the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu were working to ensure the end of the fuel crisis.

    Mohammed said, “We just concluded a very marathon Council meeting you take into consideration that it started Wednesday and it just ended this afternoon

    “As for the fuel scarcity, I can assure you that both the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Department of Petroleum Resources are working round the clock to ensure that this thing becomes a thing of the past.”

    On his part, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril said his ministry presented two memos to Council and that one of the memos was taken on Wednesday.

    He said, “The one taken Thursday is a policy memo aimed at seeking Council’s approval for the revision of the National Biosafety Management Agency.

    “The National Bio-Safety Management Agency is an agency under the Ministry of Environment charged with the direct responsibility of monitoring and supervising the use of genetically modified organism in the country.

    “Most of the time, people tend to mix this agency with another sister agency in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, that is National Bio-technology Development Agency.

    “While the first one under technology is charged with the responsibility of doing research work and making a breakthrough on many things in the country, the national biosafety under the environment ministry is a regulatory agency with the responsibility of checking the type of fuel that are genetically modified product that could come into the country to ensure that they are safe for consumption either for animals or humans and to ensure also that they do not displace our traditional products that are found locally in the country.

    “This policy memo which was approved Thursday, the first one we had was in 2006 and this predate even the establishment of the agency because the agency was established by an act of parliament in the year 2015.

    “So the policy has been in place before even the enactment of the law to establish the agency and because it has been around for more than a decade, we felt it is necessary to review it and bring it up to date and face the present reality so that as technology is developing rapidly, the policy framework that should be put in place to regulate and monitor effectively to ensure that our citizens are save is what motivated us to bring this and thank God, the Council has approved the policy memo.

    “So we have a new policy and the Attorney General of the Federation will take the necessary steps to bring it into force.

    “The first memo which was taken Wednesday was actually about the hydrocarbon remediation project in River State where approval was given for the engagement of the project management consultants as well as monitoring and evaluation to ensure that proper framework is put in place that will assist in supervising and actualising the clean-up and that was also approved yesterday.

    On Sulphur in fuel, he said; “You are talking about fuel for vehicles which has Sulphur contents. This is something that cuts across two or three ministries and it has to do with Trade, Investments and Industries. It also has to do with Petroleum Resources through the NNPC because the products are brought in by NNPC and it is something that we started with the West African sub-region and agreed that the sulphur content in our fuel is extremely high and is injurious to human health and environment. Unfortunately, the refineries in this country are not designed to have low sulphur content but we are lucky the new refinery coming up from Dangote in Lagos probably this coming year will have the standard but for us we have agreed that we have to give sometime up to about two years for the refineries in this country to upgrade to the level where they can be able produce fuel with less sulphur content but the work is ongoing, we are working closely with the NNPC for they are the people who are directly responsible.

    “We are concerned because we it is part of the pollutant that can pollute the environment and affect human health, that is why we are driving the process to ensure that they comply with regulations and in doing this we are getting support.”

    The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh said: “This afternoon we presented a memo to the Council relating to the Veterinary Council of Nigeria which has been in existence since 1953 and under the provisions of the law setting it up, the Council members meet from time to time to improve regulations on veterinary practice so that people not qualified to practice as Veterinary Doctors do not operate in the country.

    “The regulations were made and submitted to Council and Council approved them for Mr. President to endorse so that those regulations can be put in practice with the protection of livestock and the improvement of the breed of livestock in the country.”

  • EFCC arrests Innoson motors boss

    EFCC arrests Innoson motors boss

    The Chairman/Managing Director of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM), Chief Innocent Chukwuma was Tuesday arrested by security operatives attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He was whisked from his Enugu residence. As at the time of filling this report, the reason behind his arrest was yet to be ascertained.

    It was gathered that the EFCC operatives and other heavily armed policemen arrived the residence of the IVM owner at Savage Crescent, GRA, Enugu at about  7:30am and took him him away.

    Security men at the residence of Chukwuma had initially refused the EFCC operatives entry, a development that led to the firing of teargas by the policemen from the EFCC.

    The operatives, it was gathered later succeeded in gaining access to the building after overpowering Chukwuma’s security men and arrested him.

  • Saraki canvases patronage for local auto manufacturer 

    Saraki canvases patronage for local auto manufacturer 

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has urged the three arms of government to ensure the success of indigenous manufacturers as a way of rebuilding the economy and providing employment for the youth population.

    A statement Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sani Onogu said Saraki made the call while receiving a delegation from Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company, Nnewi, led by the founder, Chief Innocent Chukwuma.

    It further urged government to use legislative actions and policy initiatives to protect local industries as a deliberate way of reviving the economy.

    According to him, government should introduce policies geared towards boosting local industries through patronage by government agencies.

    “That is why this eighth Senate is determined to amend the Procurement Law to ensure that government agencies patronise made in Nigeria products. I am sure the House of Representatives is in support of this.

    “It is our joint responsibility to ensure that you succeed. If you are successful, a lot more small and medium scale enterprises will draw inspiration from you and they will become successful.

    “That will help to create jobs which are one of the mandate presented to us by the youths of this country during the last elections. We in the legislature will look at all laws and help to create an enabling environment for local businesses to thrive in Nigeria,” Saraki was quoted to have said.

    According to him, using laws to protect locally made goods is not peculiar to Nigeria, stressing that a similar thing was done in the United States under President Herbert Hoover in 1933 while India and China have also enacted similar laws in the past.

    He lamented a situation where a company like Innoson only sold about 3,000 units of vehicles in 2015 when Nigerians buy about a million vehicles annually, adding that If Nigerians patronise made in Nigeria, cars it will force foreign manufacturers to set up plants in Nigeria.